Only one of the top five is a Democratic-leaning state.
5 States With the Most Unemployment Claims Since COVID-19 Outbreak
Since President Trump declared a national emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment.
States affiliated with Trump’s political party are seeing the highest increase in unemployment claims, according to a study from WalletHub. [1] The state least impacted? Oregon, a blue state with two Democratic senators.
It may not be so surprising that fewer Republicans (61%) than Democrats (94%) told the Kaiser Family Foundation they support the COVID-19 shutdown in a recent poll. [2] And last week, thousands of pro-Trump supporters took to the streets of Lansing, Michigan to protest stay-at-home orders. [3]
Everyone is frustrated. But is it possible Republicans are quicker to re-open businesses due to higher rates of unemployment in their home states?
Click or swipe through to see the five states hit hardest by unemployment due to the COVID-19 shutdown…
1. New Hampshire
One interesting conclusion from WalletHub’s report is that the state with the highest unemployment claims since the beginning of the shutdown is a blue state.
- Increase in unemployment claims: 6,011%
- Majority of voters: Democrat
Find out: 6 Industries and Jobs Still Hiring During the Coronavirus Crisis
2. Louisiana
A local TV news station recently reported the Louisiana Workforce Commission has paid out more than $560 million in unemployment benefits to 302,000 state residents impacted by the pandemic. [4]
- Increase in unemployment claims: 5,250%
- Majority of voters: Republican
Find out: 7 Local Resources to Help Pay Bills in Tough Financial Times
3. Georgia
In April alone, the “Peach State” paid out $600 million in jobless claims, according to one of Georgia's metropolitan chamber of commerce. [5]
Brian Kemp, the state’s governor, announced he will reopen nonessential businesses such as gyms, bowling alleys, and restaurants before the end of the month. [6] That’s despite having the 10th highest number of positive coronavirus cases in the country. [7]
- Increase in unemployment claims: 4,801%
- Majority of voters: Republican
Find out: 9 Ways to Save on Utilities During the COVID-19 Crisis
4. Kentucky
Close to 500,000 Kentuckians have filed for unemployment benefits since late-March. That makes up roughly a quarter of the state’s workforce. [8]
- Increase in unemployment claims: 4,545%
- Majority of voters: Republican
5. North Carolina
Currently, there are more North Carolina residents unemployed than working. Since March 15, more than 600,000 people throughout the state have filed for benefits due to COVID-19. [9]
- Increase in unemployment claims: 4,497%
- Majority of voters: Republican
This article by Hope Dean was originally published on Debt.com.
Source:
[2] https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/issue-brief/kff-health-tracking-poll-late-april-2020/
[3]https://apnews.com/ea4c17f541c7c63fac52941a6f43b885
[4]https://www.wafb.com/2020/04/22/lwc-pays-more-than-m-unemployment-benefits-changes-how-file-weekly-certification/
[5] https://www.augustametrochamber.com/streaming/workforce-guidance
[6]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/what-reopening-georgia-might-really-be-about
[7]https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-united-states-coronavirus-outbreak/
[8]https://fox17.com/news/local/unemployment-claims-rise-to-500000-in-kentucky-since-virus-start
[9] https://www.wraltechwire.com/2020/04/24/more-people-jobless-in-nc-than-working-in-raleigh-and-its-going-to-get-worse/
Published by Debt.com, LLC
